Residents turn in lens thief

Crime & Courts / 7 February 2014, 2:40pm

Daneel Knoetze

Cape Town 140206- Cape Times photographer Brenton Geach lost his lens and was attacked by the protestors. They threw stones to the media . Sir Lowry's pass village residents burn tyres and stoned police at a protest over housing this morning. Picture Cindy Waxa.Reporter Danee/Argus

Cape Town - Police have arrested three people linked to on Thursday’s violent protest at Sir Lowry’s Pass Village. The lens that was stolen from Independent Newspapers’ photographer Brenton Geach during the protest was recovered, and one man was held in connection with the theft.

Two other people, aged 30 and 32, were also arrested during on Thursday’s protest.

Geach was attacked by a mob of housing protesters who turned on journalists amid clashes with police.

Other photographers were pelted with stones, but managed to escape without serious injury.

Geach, alone, attempted to escape from the mob. He was beaten and a man snatched a camera lens that was hanging over his shoulder. The other photographers snapped photos of the attack and robbery, and these are believed to have assisted the police in identifying a suspect.

Members of the community also told Geach that they knew the man who had stolen his lens.

“Police members investigating the incident followed up on information which led them to a possible suspect at about 10pm last night. After interrogation the 22-year-old suspect produced the stolen lens and was arrested on charges of theft and being in possession of stolen property,” said police spokesman Andre Traut this morning. The man was due to appear in the Somerset West Magistrate’s court on Friday. Police said the situation in the township was calm at the time of publication.